Hinge structure



Dec. 12, 1950 H. J. REITER 2,533,626

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 3, 194'? 4 A I 1 iIIIII/IIIIII 1 J INVENTOR. 12 3 174120117 J 1 35/7351? I 62 B I, I 14 2 TTU BY Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES i A'iENT OFFICE HINGE STRUCTURE Harold J. Reiter, Chicago, Ill Application November 3, 1947, Serial No. 782,761 14 Claims. (01-. 16-171) 1. The invention relates to improvements in hinge structures and more particularly to a rugged, novel, inexpensively constructed, easily separable hinge structure especially adapted for attaching an eyeshield to the visor of a cap. 1

Various devices have been proposed and used with varying degrees of success to provide-a separable hinge connection between an eyeshield and the visor of a cap. Such known devices, however, embody such structural features as to make their manufacture and installation very costly, and further, some are entirely devoid of the requisite ruggedness necessary to withstand the abuse to which they normally are subjected. Although other uses and applications may readily su gest themselves, the most common application is in connection with the mounting of an eyeshield to the visor of a hunting cap in a" manner that enables the eyeshield to be swung upwardly flat against the visor, or downwardly into a positionsubstantially at right angles thereto. The eye: shield preferably is mounted for easy removal and installation; nevertheless, the mounting must be sufli'ciently rugged to withstand abuse. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, separable hinge structure that will meet the most stringent requirements of Another object is to provide a hinge structure ofthe character described with a stud hinge'element fabricated entirely from sheet material.

Another object is to provide, in a separable hinge structure-, a rugged, 'nov'elly fashioned clamping hinge element.

Another object is to provide a separable hinge structure with friction means to retain the hinge elements in one position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stud element with novel structural features facilitating its attachment.

Other and further objectsof the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustratiOILshOWs exemplary embodiments and the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

' In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cap embodying features of the invention.

- 2--is a fragmentary viewof the cap show- 2 ing the eyeshield positioned substantially -at right angles to the visor thereof and illustrating the" hinge structure in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the eyeshield positioned substantially parallel to: the visor.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hinge element show-- ing a fragment of the eyeshield.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the hinge structure, taken substantially on line t fi of Fig. 2, showing the stud element in elevation and a fragment of the clamp element in section:

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the hinge structure, taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of clamp element.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a clamp element embodying other modifications in construction;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6,- but illustrating a modified form of stud element in-. s'tallation.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing, another modified form of construction. 7

Referring specifically to the accompanying. drawing the cap l l illustrated includes a visor, l2" which extends a substantial distance beyond the head band it thereof and is provided on its bottom side with an eyeshield M which preferably,

is fabricated from any suitable tinted transpar-iency such as, for example, plastic or the like.

The eyeshield i l is hingedly connected to the visor l2 as by means of a pair of novel hinge structures generally indicated at l5: It should be.

observed that two such hinge structures prefer-- ably are employed so as to provide a firm anchor age for the eyeshield whereby it may readily be moved into a plurality of positions and f rmly held in place. The hinge structures are identical and preferably are of a kindhaving readily sepa rable hinge elements so as to permit easy re moval and quick attachment of the eyeshield- Such a structure obviously requires that the hinge construction embody such features as will enable their ready detachment or attachment without l2, and as best illustrated in Fig. 6-, it comprises The stud partf.

a stud part 23 and post part 2t. 2?. preferably is fabricated from sheet" material" suitably drawn and shaped to provide a circular base flange and a cylindrical stud including a base 26, a neck 21, anda head 28 arranged in the order named. The neck 21 is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the base 26 and head 28. a tubular portion or eyelet 29 having a circular base flange 3|.

In assembly the tubular portion 29 of the post part 24 is extended through an opening 32 in the visor with the circular flange 3| lying against one face thereof. The stud part 23 is then placed against the opposite face of the visor and telescoped over the projecting portion of the tubular portion 29, whereupon suitable pressure is applied, as by means of any known type of fastener attaching apparatus, to expand the free projected end of the tubular portion 29 within the head 28 of the stud. This operation serves to firmly attach the stud element to the visor.

The other or stud embracing or clamping element 22 of the hinge structure is best illustrated in Fig. 4. As there shown, it comprises a substantially U-shaped member fabricated from sheet material and including a medial portion 35 and spaced parallel legs 36. The legs 36 extend at right angles from a common face of the medial portion 35 and project laterally beyond one edge 31 thereof as shown. The laterally projecting legs terminate in substantially rounded ends 38, and their upper (as viewed in Fig. 3) or relatively free edges 39 taper downwardly from the rounded ends to merge substantially with the remote edge 4| of the medial portion 35. It will thus be observed that the legs 36 are substantially triangular in shape, thus materially increasing their rigidity.

The medial portion 35 i suitably apertured to receive a rivet 42 for attaching it to the eyeshield l4 in the manner shown. Free rotation of the clamping element 22 about its mounting is prevented by a lip 43 on the medial portion edge 31 which engages over the edge of the eyeshield.

Each leg 36 is provided at its rounded end with a dished area 44' defining substantially spherical shaped sockets on opposed faces of said legs. These sockets are adapted to receive therein the head 28 of the stud element 2| when the hinge structure is assembled. Owing to the inherent resiliency of the legs 36 said legs normally are spaced apart a distance substantially less than the diameter of the head 28 so that when said head is engaged therebetween the legs are spread apart sufilciently to receive the head within the sockets and frictionally prevent ready separation thereof.

A cap having an eyeshield attached thereto frequently is used under conditions which do not require the eyeshield to be positioned in the sub stantially vertical or useful position illustrated in Fig. 2. It is therefore very advantageous to provide additional means to insure frictional retention of the eyeshield in its non-usable position as shown in Fig. 3. To this end each leg 36 has a protuberance 45 adjacent the rounded end 38 thereof which extends beyond the plane of the leg edge 39. Upon referring to Figs. 3 and 6 it will be observed that the edge of the protuberance 45 lies within the circular plane of the stud base 26 when the eyeshield is positioned parallel with the visor. This contact occasioned between the protuberances 45 and the stud base 26 affords increased frictional means for preventing unwarranted movement of the visor downwardly out of its visor parallel position.

The post part 24 consists of The clamping element shown in Fig. 7 is sub stantially like the one described previously and like numerals identify corresponding parts. In this structure the medial portion 35a is substantially coextensive with the legs 36 and is provided with a struck-out detent or lip 43a to coact with the eyeshield edge. A slit 5|, extending from said struck-out lip to the forward edge of the medial portion, affords means whereby the legs 36 may flex to engage or disengage a stud element.

Fig. 8 shows a clamping element substantially like that shown in Fig. 7 except that the attaching end is oifset downwardly in the direction of the substantially triangular legs 36 to provide a perpendicular shoulder 52 on the upper face of the clamping element against which the edge of the eyeshield is abutted. The medial portion 35a is slit longitudinally at 5| so as to permit the legs 36 to flex to engage or disengage the dished areas 44 with a related ball-stud of the kind shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 shows a hinge structure embodying a slightly modified form of stud element. As shown, the stud post 53, which is otherwise like the stud element 2| and has like numbers identifying corresponding parts, is provided on its circular base flange 25a with an inwardly turned circular wall 54 having its inner peripheral edge defining an opening 55 of relatively small diameter. A ratchet nail 56, having a base flange or head 51 and a plurality of annular or substantially annular longitudinally spaced burrs or ridges '58 throughout its length, is thrust through the visor I2 and engaged in the opening 55 as a means for anchoring the stud post 53 to said visor. It should be observed that the inwardly turned circular wall 54 is dished inwardly slightly at its center and is slit radially as at 59 so that any forces seeking to separate the nail 56 from the stud post 53 will be resisted by the inherent tendency of the dished wall 54 to straighten and thus reduce the diameter of the opening 55.

Fig. 10 shows a hinge structure embodying another modified form of stud element. This stud element is substantially like that shown in Fig. 9. except that stud post 6| has a base plate 62 firmly attached thereto as by having the margins 63 of its annular base flange 64 rolled inwardly thereover. The base plate 62 is dished in the area of its center and is provided with a central opening of a size slightly less than the smallest diameter of the ratchet nail 56. The base plate 82 may be formed with one or more radial slits 59 to increase its binding action upon the nail 56. In other respects the stud post 6| corresponds to the studs previously described herein and like numbers are used to identify corresponding portions thereof.

Although exemplary forms of the present invention have been disclosed in detail in the accompanying drawing and specifically described in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that the invention is capable of embodying a variety of modifications in detail structure Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hinge structure, a ball-stud element and a ball-stud embracing element, said embracing element comprising a substantially U-shaped bracket having parallel legs extending upwardly from and laterally beyond one edge of the medial portion thereotsaid medial ortion being apere tured to receive a rivet and the legs being substantially triangular.

-2. Inahinge-structure, "a ball-stud element an'd a ball-stud embracing element, "said embracing element comprising a substantially U-shaped bracket having parallel legs extending upwardly from and laterally beyond'one'edge of the medial portion thereof, said medial portion being a-pertu're'd to receive a rivet, the legs being substantially triangular, and opposed semi-spherical sockets adjacent the base line of each triangular leg.

3. In a hinge structure, a ball-stud "element anda ball-stud embracing element, said embracing element Comprising a substantially tr-shaped bracket having parallel legs extending upwardly from and laterally beyond one edge of the medial portion thereof, the legs being substantially triangulargand a lip on said-oneedge projecting below the bottom face of said medial portion, to define an abutment for the edge of a sheet to which the embracing element is adapted to be attached.

4. In a hinge structure, a ball-stud element and a ball-stud embracing element, said embracing element comprising a substantially U-shaped bracket having parallel legs extending upwardly from and laterally beyond one edge of the medial portion thereof, the legs being substantially triangular, and a cam element on each leg.

5. A clamping element for a separable hinge structure comprising a substantially U-shaped bracket having parallel legs extending upwardly from and laterally beyond one edge of the medial portion thereof, said medial portion being aper tured to receive a rivet and the legs being substantially triangular.

6. A clamping element for a separable hinge structure comprising an elongated shallow U- shaped bracket having legs progressively increasing in depth towards one edge of the medial portion thereof, a protuberance in the medial portion adjacent one end thereof and said medial portion having a longitudinal slit extending from the other end substantially to the protuberance.

7. A clamping element for a separable hinge structure comprising an elongated shallow U- shaped bracket having a medial portion and spaced parallel legs extending upwardly from and projecting laterally beyond one end of the medial portion, said legs progressively decreasing in depth from said one end toward the other end of the medial portion, said medial portion terminating at said other end in an attaching portion having an aperture and being offset out of the plane of said medial portion to provide a perpendicular shoulder on the face thereof which is opposed to the face from which the parallel legs of the U-shaped bracket extend.

8. In a separable hinge assembly including a ball-stud element and a clamp element, said clamp element having an intermediate body portion and spaced parallel legs extending above one surface of said body portion and projecting at one end thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, opposed sockets in the projecting end portions of said legs adapted to embrace the ball-stud element, and cam means on said legs adjacent their projecting ends to frictionally coact with base of the stud element to resist free movement of the clamp element when it is in a predetermined position of adjustment.

9. In a separable hinge assembly includin a ball-stud element and a clamp element, said clamp element having an intermediate body portion and spaced parallel legs extending above one surface of said body portion and projecting at one en'tl thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, said legs having appreciable depth adjacent their projecting ends and having edges which incline towards the body portion, and opposed sockets in the projecting ends of the legs adapted to receive the ball-stud element therebetween.

10. In a separable hinge assembly including a ball-stud-elementa-nd a-clampelement, said cla p element having an intermediate "body portion and spaced parallel legs extending above one surface of said body portion and projecting at one end thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, said legs having appreciable depth adja- Cent their projectingends andhaving edges which incline towards the body portion, opposed "sockets in the "projecting end portions or the legs adapted to receive the ball-stud element therebetween, and a protuberance on one edge of each leg adapted to frictionally coact with the base of the stud to resist relative movement between the stud element and clamp element in one position of adjustment.

11. In a separable hinge assembly including a ball-stud element and a clamp element, said clamp element having an intermediate body portion and spaced parallel legs extending from one surface of the body portion and projecting at one end thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, the body portion having an aperture adjacent its other edge, each leg portion having at least one of its edges inclined toward the body portion, and sockets on the opposed faces of the projecting ends of said leg portions.

12. In a separable hinge assembly including a ball-stud element and a clamp element, said clamp elementhaving an intermediate body portion and spaced parallel legs extending from one surface of the body portion and projecting at one end thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, the body portion having an aperture adjacent its other edge, each leg portion having at least one of its edges extending at an acute angle to the plane of the body portion, and sockets on the opposed faces of the projecting ends of said leg portions.

13. In a separable hinge assembly including a ball-stud element and a clamp element, said clamp element having an intermediate body portion and spaced parallel legs extending from one surface of the body portion and projecting at one end thereof laterally beyond one edge of said body portion, the body portion having an aperture adjacent its other edge, said leg portion having at least one of its edges inclined toward the body portion, sockets on tne opposed faces of the projecting ends of said leg portions, and means on said clamp element adapted to cooperate with the ball-stud element to restrain relative movement of the elements in one direction.

14. A clamp element for a separable hinge structure comprising an elongated shallow U- shaped bracket having legs progressively increasing in depth toward one end of the medial portion thereof, and a protuberance in the medial portion adjacent the end having the shallower leg portions, said end being apertured to receive a mounting element, said clamping element being slit for a part of its length inwardly from the minating s'hbrt of thecther end of the clamp element.

HAROLD J. REITER.

REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date Brevoort Apr. 14, 1868 Downey Jan. 8, 1901 Fergusson Oct. 21, 1902 Duncan Jan. 22, 1907 Hill Jan. 10, 1911 Aman Sept. 26, 1916 Altman Oct. 29, 1918 Taylor July 15, 1919 Crossley Aug. 19, 1919 Doerner Jan. 16, 1923 Number Numb er Name 7 Date fidwning Mar, 31, 1924 Blacker et a1 June 13, 1925 King 1= May 4, 1926 Cantor May 29, 1928 More Aug. 16,- 1932 Livengood June 11, 1935 Shoskey et a1 Sept. 3, 1935 Bahr Oct. 27, 1936 Fuller Dec. 23, 1941. Sen Sept. 7, 1943 Kilham Jan. 6, 1948 Tinnerman Feb. 10, 1948 Brown July 5, 1949 Feldman Mar. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country 7 Date Great Britain Aug. 6, 1897 

